TheÂ All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) vice-presidentÂ Dr Sayeed Sadiq said on April 10 that the practice of triple talaq will be abolished within 18 months and there is no need for government interference into the issue.

“Even if I say triple talaq 300 times, it will not materialize into a divorce,”Â said the Shia scholar at a press conference. He also said that in Shia community divorce cannot take place instantly by saying talaq thrice. “The law is there among Sunnis also but triple talaq at one go is also considered as divorce which is not actually right,” he added.

Interestingly, Sadiq’s statement comes after AIMPLB claimed that the Muslim community has a low rate of divorce and Muslim women were not against the practice of triple talaq as it has received 3.50 crore forms from Muslim women in favour of Shariyat and triple talaq. On the other hand, a petition started by the Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), calling for the abolition of triple talaq, has received signatures of over a million Muslims from across India, majorly women.

“The practices which are under challenge, namely, triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy are practices which impact the social status and dignity of Muslim women and render them unequal and vulnerable qua men belonging to their own community, women belonging to other communities and also Muslim women outside India,” the Centre said in a submission filed before the Supreme court on April 10.

The apex court on March 30 had observed that practices of triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy among Muslims were issues involving “sentiments” and a Constitution bench would hear the pleas challenging these from May 11.

Â Several women have filed petitions before the Supreme Court for ending this practice where a man can divorce his wife by saying talaq thrice.